Dear Editor,

I retired in 2017 but kept up my membership in the WA State Bar and Clallam County Bar, so I get email from them. Recently the CCB sent on a June 4th letter from the state Supreme Court, charging attorneys to pick up the baton (re George Floyd’s death) : “The legal community must recognize that we all bear responsibility for this ongoing injustice and that we are capable of taking steps to address it, if only we have the courage and the will.”

I don’t consider myself a community leader. There are several others who do wear that hat well, in government, businesses, civic organizations, and houses of God. But I guess now I will do some homework and find out what “wheel has already been invented” to enlarge understanding and what wheels will work here, when we are in Phase 2 and some are vulnerable so still limiting interaction. I will share my findings with some of these leaders or any other interested party (find me on Facebook; some already have).

Maybe this can become a start towards both healing and growth, after the events of June 3rd in our community. While It appears after reading the June 12th PDN article about the family’s input, that events of June 3rd were more a political response than racial, still, we have division among us.

Attorneys are trained to see both sides. Did you know this? TV makes it look like we argue, argue, argue and only see one. But a successful trial lawyer must study the other side’s viewpoint to anticipate arguments and have an effective response. A successful drafter of contracts (the ultimate compromise if done well; designed to avoid future lawsuits) absolutely must consider both sides. Ditto for drafting laws and regulations, or for negotiation. So, I will make every effort to understand motivations from all perspectives, even though I have an opinion of what is right (who among us does not?). The goal is to bring us to common understanding and avoidance of misjudgment in the future. It will be a great exercise for me, just to start down this path. I hope it will ultimately be a great exercise for all of us.

Katie Krueger,

Forks, WA